The Latest: American Airlines investigates cause of fire

SEATTLE – The Latest on an airplane catching fire at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (all times local):

10:20 a.m.

American Airlines says their maintenance team is inspecting an airplane that caught fire as it prepared to take off from the Seattle airport, but there was no immediate word on the cause.

Spokesman Ross Feinstein says flames were reported coming out of the auxiliary power unit in the rear of the aircraft while it was leaving the gate Wednesday.

The Airbus A320 carrying 151 passengers and six crew members was heading to Philadelphia. No one was injured, and none of the passengers was evacuated.

The aircraft taxied back to the gate under its own power. Feinstein says the airline apologized to the passengers for the inconvenience.

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9:50 a.m.

A fire erupted on an American Airlines plane as it headed for the runway to depart Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, but the blaze was quickly extinguished.

No injuries were reported Wednesday morning.

Airport spokesman Brian DeRoy says the Airbus A320 was on the taxiway going toward the runway when smoke started coming out of the back of the plane. He says a spark in the auxiliary power unit just below the tail section started a small fire.

The Port of Seattle Fire Department responded and put the fire out. The aircraft headed back to the gate.

It had been scheduled to depart for Philadelphia at 8:10 a.m.

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